Grasshopper exterminator



Dec. 1, 1925f V. 5. SMITH ET AL GRASSHOPPER EXTERMINATOR Fild Nov. 26, 1924 Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

F ti VIRGIL S. SMITH AND HALTER E. CLARKE, OFYALE, OKLAHOMA.

GRASSHOZPPER EXTERMINATOR.

Application filed November 26, 1924-. Serial No. 752,397.

To all whom it may mm.-

Be it known that we, Vrnon. S. SirrrH and WALTER E. CLARKE, citizens of the United States, residing at Yale, in the county of Payne, State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grasshopper Exterminators; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the inven tion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in insect destroyers and particularly to devices for destroying grasshoppers.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of this character by means of which grasshoppers can be easily caught and instantly destroyed.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is especially adapted for attachment to an automobile, whereby the grasshoppers may be easily and quickly scooped or gathered into a receptacle, in which is arranged means for carrying the grasshoppers into a destroying means.

Another objectis to provide a device of this character wherein the destroying means is driven by the automobile, as the automobile moves forwardly.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an automobile, showing the invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device, and the associated portion of the automobile.

Figure 8 is a. vertical longitudinal central sectional view through the device, on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 represents a portion of the running-board of the automobile 11, and 12 the rear wheel thereof, which latter has the pulley 13 fixed on the hub thereof. Disposed against the outer edge of the running board 10 is a tapering receptacle 14:, the larger end of which is directed forwardly of the automobile, and is open to permit the grasshoppers to pass thereinto. The receptacle is preferably formed of angle iron strips 15, across which is secured a flexible material, such as the oilcloth 16. A substantially Z-shaped bracket 17 has its upper horizontal arm secured to the runningboard, while the lower horizontal arm is secured to the lower face of the larger open end of the receptacle, whereby to support this end of the receptacle. The lower portion of the receptacle is disposed below the level of the running-board, as seen in the drawing, whereby to more easily permit the grasshoppers to enter the open end thereof. Secured to the opposite sides of the smaller end of the receptacle are the vertical members 18, and secured across the upper ends of these members is a bar 19. A substantially Z-shaped bracket 20, has its upper horizontal arm secured to the runningboard, while its lower arm is secured to the upper face of the adjacent end of the bar 19, whereby the smaller end of the receptacle is supported on the running-board.

Extending between the vertical members 18 are the vertically alined, and slightly spaced rollers 21 and 22, the ends of which have the trunnions 23 which are rotatably supported in openings 24 in the members 18. The trunnions at one end of the upper roller 21 have a gear 25 secured thereto, outwardly of the upright member 18, while the corresponding trunnion of the lower roller 22 is provided with a gear 26 meshing with the gear 25. Also secured to the trunnion of the upper roller 21, outwardly of the gear 25, is a pulley 27, a driving belt being engaged around this pulley 27, and the pulley 13 of the hub of the wheel 12. Rotatably supported in the lower portion of the forward end of the receptacle 1 1, and in the same plane as the lower roller 22, is a roller 28, a conveyor belt 29 being engaged around these rollers. Onto this belt or apron the grasshoppers fall, as they fly into the open end of the receptacle, and by reason of the fact that the apron is in constant motion, the grasshoppers will be carried back to the rollers, and crushed therebetween.

While we have shown a single receptacle mounted 011 the side of the automobile it will be understood that a second receptacle may be mounted on the other running-board, whereby a greater number of grasshoppers may be caught and killed at the same time. The mounting of the second receptacle, and the manner of driving the crushing rollers and traveling belt will be identical to those described in eonneetion with the receptacle with. the larger end directed forwardly to illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

l Vhile we have illustrated the device as: used in eoiime-etion Will), an ziu'oinolnle, We

wish it understood that the device has other adaptations, such as being applied to inow ere, binders, headers, and other like meehines, without departii'ig from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the claim.

What is claimed is:

The combination with a Vehicle and the rear wheel thereof, of :1 tapering open-ended receptacle mounted on the side of the vehicle receive insects, ornshinp; rollers mounted in the snmller end of the receptacle, driving means between the said rear Wheel and the crushing rollers, a roller mounted in the larger end of the receptacle, and an endless hell; engaged with the last-named roller and the lower of the erushlng rollers.

In testimony whereof, We afiir; our s1gnutnres.

VIRGIL s. SMITH. WA'LIER n. emnicn 

